Kapi the Clever Monkey and the Greedy Crocodile

The Power of Intelligence over Strength


Once upon a time, in a thick, green jungle, there lived a very clever monkey named Kapi. Kapi loved to swing from tree to tree, play in the sunlight, and eat sweet fruits. He was not just fast and strong; he was very smart too.

One sunny morning, Kapi decided to take a walk near a pond he had never visited before. The pond was wide, with clear water shining in the sunlight. Around the pond grew tall grass and big trees, and Kapi could hear the chirping of birds and the buzzing of bees. But Kapi also knew something else—this pond belonged to a crocodile named Gaja.

Gaja was big and strong. His teeth were sharp, and he was very greedy. Many animals in the jungle were afraid of Gaja because he often ate the animals that came to drink water from the pond.

Kapi, being very clever, thought to himself, “I must be careful. But maybe I can trick Gaja and make him promise not to eat any animals again.”

Kapi stepped closer to the edge of the pond. He called out in a friendly voice, “Good morning, Gaja! How are you today?”

Gaja opened his big mouth and smiled. “Ah! A little monkey! I am feeling very strong and happy today. What brings you here?”

Kapi bowed slightly and said, “Oh, great Gaja! I have heard from many animals in the jungle that you are very wise. Everyone says you know many stories about the jungle. Could you please tell me one story? I would love to listen.”

Gaja’s eyes sparkled with pride. “You want to hear my story? Oh, little monkey, I can tell you a very long story. Sit down, and I will begin.”

Kapi sat on a rock near the water. He looked at Gaja carefully and whispered to himself, “Now, I must be very clever. I need to trick him, but I must stay safe.”

Gaja began to tell his story. He spoke about his childhood, how he learned to swim in the river, and how he hunted fish in the pond. As Gaja spoke, Kapi slowly moved closer to the water. He was careful to make it seem like he was listening, but he was really planning his next move.

“Oh, little monkey,” said Gaja, “when I was young, I caught my first fish. It was big and shiny. All the animals were amazed at my strength. I am the strongest in this jungle!”

Kapi nodded and said, “Wow, Gaja! You are very strong. But I am sure being smart is also very important, right?”

Gaja laughed. “Yes, yes, being smart is important, but strength is more important than anything!”

Kapi thought for a moment and said with a smile, “I have an idea. I want to see if your strength is as great as your wisdom. Can I try something?”

Gaja was curious. “What is it, little monkey? Tell me. I am not afraid of anything!”

Kapi jumped closer and said, “I want to see how strong and wise you are. If you let me, I will climb onto your back. Then we can play a small game.”

Gaja, feeling proud, agreed. “Alright, little monkey. You may climb on my back. Let’s see what game you have in mind.”

As Kapi climbed onto Gaja’s back, he whispered quietly, “Now is the time. I will make him promise not to eat the animals again.”

Kapi carefully walked closer to Gaja’s mouth. “Oh, Gaja,” said Kapi softly, “I have a small trick. If you want me to come out safely, you must promise me something.”

Gaja stopped swimming. “A trick? What trick, little monkey? Speak quickly!”

Kapi said bravely, “If you promise never to eat any of the animals that come to drink from this pond, I will come out safely. But if you do not promise, I will stay here.”

Gaja was shocked. He did not want anything bad to happen. He thought, “This little monkey is clever. I do not want to be tricked or hurt.”

With a nervous smile, Gaja said, “Alright, little monkey. I promise! I promise I will never eat any of the animals that come to drink water from this pond. You can come out safely.”

Kapi laughed with joy. “Thank you, Gaja! I knew you were wise after all.”

Kapi carefully climbed out and jumped back onto the rock. “See, all the animals in the jungle can now drink safely from this pond,” he said. “Your promise will help everyone be happy.”

Gaja nodded. “Yes, little monkey. I will keep my promise. No animal will ever be eaten by me again.”

From that day on, Gaja never ate any animals at the pond. The animals of the jungle were very happy. They thanked Kapi for his cleverness and bravery. Kapi became famous as the smartest monkey in the jungle.

Even the birds, the deer, and the small rabbits came to the pond to play and drink water. They all felt safe because Kapi had shown them that brains are stronger than strength.

And Kapi? He kept swinging from tree to tree, eating fruits, and thinking about new ways to help his friends in the jungle. He knew that being clever and kind was more powerful than being just strong.

THE END

Moral of the story: Cleverness is stronger than strength, and using your brain wisely can save many lives.

Comprehension Questions

  1. Question: Who is the main character of the story?
    Answer: The main character is Kapi, the clever monkey.

  2. Question: Where does Kapi live?
    Answer: Kapi lives in a thick, green jungle.

  3. Question: Who is Gaja, and why were the animals afraid of him?
    Answer: Gaja is a big crocodile. The animals were afraid of him because he was greedy and often ate the animals that came to drink water from his pond.

  4. Question: What plan did Kapi make to stop Gaja from eating animals?
    Answer: Kapi tricked Gaja by asking him to promise not to eat animals if Kapi came out safely.

  5. Question: Did Gaja keep his promise?
    Answer: Yes, Gaja kept his promise and never ate any animals at the pond again.

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. Question: Why do you think Kapi asked Gaja to tell a story first?
    Answer: Kapi asked Gaja to tell a story to distract him and get closer safely without being eaten.

  2. Question: How did Kapi show he was clever?
    Answer: Kapi was clever because he used his brain and a plan to make Gaja promise not to eat the animals instead of fighting him.

  3. Question: What would have happened if Kapi was not clever?
    Answer: Gaja might have eaten Kapi or continued to eat the other animals.

  4. Question: Why do you think strength alone is not always enough?
    Answer: Strength alone is not always enough because smart thinking and cleverness can solve problems without using force.

  5. Question: How did Kapi help other animals in the jungle?
    Answer: Kapi helped other animals by making Gaja promise not to eat them, so they could drink water safely from the pond.

Moral and Life Lesson Questions

  1. Question: What is the moral of the story?
    Answer: The moral of the story is that cleverness and thinking wisely are more powerful than just strength.

  2. Question: Can you think of a time when being clever helped you in real life?
    Answer: (Children can give personal examples, e.g., solving a problem, helping a friend, or finishing homework smartly.)

  3. Question: How can we use Kapi’s cleverness in our daily life?
    Answer: We can use cleverness by thinking before acting, solving problems peacefully, and helping others without fighting.

  4. Question: Why is it important to keep promises like Gaja did?
    Answer: It is important because keeping promises shows honesty and helps build trust with others.

  5. Question: What lesson can we learn about being brave and smart at the same time?
    Answer: We can learn that bravery is good, but using our mind and being careful is even more helpful in tricky situations.

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